Drug delivery device with protective needle cap control and device activation mechanism

Abstract

A drug delivery device includes an outer body receiving a cartridge with a needle, a needle cap adapted to be coupled to the outer body and to cover the needle and a control mechanism for activating the drug delivery device. The control mechanism includes a control element received within the outer body and axially and/or rotationally movable relative to the outer body between an initial position, a first activating position, and a second activating position. The control element is coupled to the needle cap and to the cartridge, the needle cap is retained on the outer body when the control element is in the initial position, the needle cap is released from the outer body and the needle is covered by the outer body when the control element is in the first activating position, and the needle is exposed when the control element is in the second activating position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A drug delivery device comprising:
 an outer body adapted to receive a cartridge with a needle; 
 a needle cap assembly adapted to be coupled to the outer body and to cover the needle; and 
 a control mechanism for activating the drug delivery device, the control mechanism comprises a control element that is received within the outer body and movable relative to the outer body between an initial position, a first activating position, and a second activating position, 
 wherein the control element is configured to be coupled to the needle cap assembly and to the cartridge, 
 wherein the needle cap assembly is retained on the outer body when the control element is in the initial position, 
 wherein the needle cap assembly is configured to be released from the outer body and the needle is configured to be covered by the outer body due to a movement of the control element from the initial position into the first activating position, and 
 wherein the needle is exposed when the control element is in the second activating position. 
 
     
     
       2. The drug delivery device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control element comprises an activating element operable from an outside of the outer body and adapted to move the control element relative to the outer body to subsequently release the needle cap assembly from the outer body and to expose the needle. 
     
     
       3. The drug delivery device according to  claim 2 , wherein the activating element is configured as a lever. 
     
     
       4. The drug delivery device according to  claim 2 , wherein the activating element protrudes radially outwards through a slot in a circumference of the outer body. 
     
     
       5. The drug delivery device according to  claim 4 , wherein the slot is limited by a first stop and a second stop. 
     
     
       6. The drug delivery device according to  claim 5 , wherein the activating element is guidable within the slot, and wherein the activating element is configured to abut the first stop when the activating element is in the initial position. 
     
     
       7. The drug delivery device according to  claim 6 , wherein the activating element is located between the first stop and the second stop when the activating element is in the first activating position. 
     
     
       8. The drug delivery device according to  claim 6 , wherein the activating element is configured to abut the second stop when the activating element is in the second activating position. 
     
     
       9. The drug delivery device according to  claim 4 , wherein the slot extends in a direction along the circumference of the outer body. 
     
     
       10. The drug delivery device according to  claim 4 , wherein the control element is configured as an elongate sleeve arranged within the outer body and rotatably movable with respect to the outer body when the activating element is moved within the slot. 
     
     
       11. The drug delivery device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control element is adapted to be screwed to the needle cap assembly. 
     
     
       12. The drug delivery device according to  claim 11 , wherein the needle cap assembly comprises an outer thread arranged proximally, and the control element comprises a corresponding inner thread arranged distally. 
     
     
       13. The drug delivery device according to  claim 1 , wherein the needle cap assembly is rotationally locked to the outer body by a snap connection when the control element is in the initial position. 
     
     
       14. The drug delivery device according to  claim 13 , wherein the snap connection comprises a number of locking projections on a distal end of the outer body engaging into a number of corresponding recesses on a shoulder of the needle cap assembly. 
     
     
       15. The drug delivery device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control element is mechanically coupled to a drive spring. 
     
     
       16. The drug delivery device according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer body comprises the cartridge and the cartridge contains a pharmaceutically active compound.